Abstract: A concentrator, wherein the concentrator comprises an air processor that includes a sampled airflow inlet slot that receives a sampled airflow that contains particles containing target material. A secondary airflow inlet slot that is located downstream from the sampled airflow inlet slot. The sampled airflow inlet slot uses centrifugal force to concentrate particles containing target material into a central portion of the sampled airflow, and produces a non-collimated sampled airflow. The secondary airflow inlet slot is operable to divide a secondary airflow from at least a part of the central portion of the sampled airflow that is received by the secondary airflow inlet slot from the sampled airflow inlet slot, and is operable to divide side primary airflows from the non-collimated sampled airflow produced by the sampled airflow inlet slot. Finally, the secondary airflow flows through the secondary airflow inlet slot.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to substituted urea depsipeptide analogs, derivatives thereof, and related compounds, which are useful as activators the C1pP endopeptidease; synthesis methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of treating infectious disease using the compounds and compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Methods are provided for qualifying jet fuel fractions that are derived at least in part from pre-refined crude oil sources. The methods allow for determination of the stability of a jet fuel product over time by using an accelerated aging test. The methods are beneficial for verifying the stability of a jet fuel fraction that includes a portion derived from a pre-refined crude oil.

Abstract: A method comprising obtaining, from a master user, a device usage allocation applicable to two or more devices, the two or more devices being associated with another user, the another user being different from the master user, obtaining an aggregate measure of device usage associated with the two or more devices, if the aggregate measure of device usage associated with the two or more devices satisfies a condition relative to the device usage allocation, managing an activity of the two or more devices, and sending a notification to at least one of the two or more devices, the notification for presentation to the another user through a user interface of the at least one of the two or more devices.

Abstract: Disclosed is a platelet-testing chip. The platelet-testing chip includes a plurality of sample chambers storing blood samples, stirrers provided in the sample chambers to apply shearing force to the blood samples, a plurality of waste sample chambers provided so as to correspond to the plurality of the sample chambers, microchannels, through which the sample chambers and the waste sample chambers corresponding to each other are independently connected to thus form paths through which the blood samples flow from the sample chambers to the corresponding waste sample chambers, and microbeads which are received in one or more of the plurality of the sample chambers and which are coated with a reagent for activating platelets on an outer surface thereof. When the blood samples are transferred from the sample chambers through the microchannels, the microbeads are transferred together with the blood samples.

Abstract: In a process for separating dimethyl biphenyl isomers a mixture comprising one or more 3,3?, 3,4?- or 4,4?-dimethyl biphenyl isomers, one or more 2,X?-dimethyl biphenyl isomers (where X=2, 3, or 4) and one or more further hydrocarbon components is contacted with a first adsorbent, thereby selectively adsorbing one or more of the dimethyl biphenyl isomers within the first adsorbent. A first raffinate stream containing less selectively adsorbed components is withdrawn from the first adsorbent and a first extract stream containing selectively adsorbed dimethyl biphenyl isomers is withdraw. The selectively adsorbed dimethyl biphenyl isomers comprise one or more of 3,3?-, 3,4?- or 4,4?-dimethyl biphenyl isomers and one or more of 2,X?-dimethyl biphenyl isomers (where X?=2, 3, or 4).

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring plastic deformation of a structural material are provided. An acoustic wave actuator is configured to generate acoustic wave signals to be propagated within the structural material and is in-situ fabricated on the structural material at a first location. An alternating current (AC) electric signal source drives the acoustic wave actuator to generate the acoustic wave signals at a predetermined frequency. One or more acoustic wave sensors detect the acoustic wave signals generated by the acoustic wave actuator and propagated within the structural material. More particularly, the acoustic wave detectors are configured to detect both fundamental and second harmonic acoustic signals at the predetermined frequency. The acoustic wave sensors are in-situ fabricated on the structural material at one or more second locations.

Abstract: A new solvent-based method is presented for making low-cost composite graphite electrodes containing a thermoplastic binder. The electrodes, termed thermoplastic electrodes (TPEs), are easy to fabricate and pattern, give excellent electrochemical performance, and have high conductivity (1500 S m?1). The thermoplastic binder enables the electrodes to be hot embossed, molded, templated, and/or cut with a CO2 laser into a variety of intricate patterns. These electrodes show a marked improvement in peak current, peak separation, and resistance to charge transfer over traditional carbon electrodes. The impact of electrode composition, surface treatment (sanding, polishing, plasma treatment), and graphite source were found to impact fabrication, patterning, conductivity, and electrochemical performance. Under optimized conditions, electrodes generated responses similar to more expensive and difficult to fabricate graphene and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite electrodes.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable assembly suitable for providing mesh connectivity includes a fiber shuffle region arranged between first and second cable assembly sections that each include multiple tubes each containing a group of optical fibers, with a jacket provided over one or both cable assembly sections. The fiber shuffle region may be compact in width and length, and integrated into a trunk cable. Optical fibers remain in sequential order in groups at ends of the cable assembly sections, where the fibers may be ribbonized and/or connectorized. A fabrication method for such a fiber optic cable assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating a molten carbonate fuel cell, such as a fuel cell assembly, with increased production of syngas while also reducing or minimizing the amount of CO2 exiting the fuel cell in the cathode exhaust stream. This can allow for improved efficiency of syngas production while also generating electrical power.

Abstract: A biometric device includes a substrate, an image sensor, at least one infrared light emitting diode (IR LED), a supporting structure and an optical layer. The image sensor is disposed on the substrate. The at least one IR LED is disposed on the substrate. The supporting structure is disposed on the substrate and located between the image sensor and the at least one infrared light emitting diode. The optical layer is disposed on the supporting structure, covers the image sensor, and includes a coded pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to video encoding/decoding methods and device, wherein the video encoding method according to the invention comprises the following steps: acquiring information of peripheral blocks; setting the information about a current block based on the information of the peripheral blocks; and encoding the current block based on the set information, wherein the current block and the peripheral blocks may be a CU (coding unit).

Abstract: A hybrid Cascaded H-Bridge (CHB) converter includes a selective harmonic current mitigation pulse width modulation (SHCM-PWM) unit coupled to an input current and providing an output signal SWSHCM, a phase shift pulse width modulation (PSPWM) unit coupled to the input current and providing an output signal SWPS, a modulation selector coupled to the output signal SWSHCM of the SHCM-PWM unit and the output signal SWPS of the PSPWM unit and providing an output signal SW, and a CHB converter coupled to the output signal SW of the modulation selector. The modulation selector can select one of the output signals (SWSHCM and SWPS) as the output signal SW based on the input current. The hybrid technique is for cascaded multilevel converters which utilizes asymmetric SHCM to mitigate the harmonics generated from PS-PWM to meet harmonic limits with a smaller number of switching transitions and smaller inductance than the conventional PS-PWM technique.

Abstract: The present invention provides for compositions and methods for producing sorghum crop plants that are resistant to herbicides. In particular, the present invention provides for sorghum plants, plant tissues and plant seeds that contain altered acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes and proteins that are resistant to inhibition by herbicides that normally inhibit the activity of the ALS protein.

Abstract: A device for providing a realistic media content, includes: inward facing image acquisition unit configured to acquire multiple inward facing images that are taken by an inward method using multiple cameras arranged around an object; an outward facing image acquisition unit configured to acquire multiple outward facing images that are taken by an outward method using the multiple cameras arranged around a point; a background image generation unit configured to generate a 360° cylindrical image by stitching the multiple outward facing images and then convert the 360° cylindrical image into a 360° spherical image to generate a background image; a 3D object reconstruction unit configured to extract a region of the object from the multiple inward facing images to generate a 3D object; and a combined image transmission unit configured to combine the background image with the 3D object and transmit the combined image to a display device.

Abstract: Compounds are provided that antagonize the kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) and products containing such compounds, as well as to methods of their use and synthesis. Such compounds have the structure of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable isomer, racemate, hydrate, solvate, isotope or salt thereof: wherein X, Y, R1, R2, R4, R5 R6, R7, R8 and R11 are as defined herein.

Abstract: Switchable adhesion devices, systems and methods are provided. A switchable adhesion component includes a switchable body. At least one portion of the body is adapted to carry an adhesive layer and another portion a load. At least a portion of the body is switchable between one or more varying states without imparting change to the surface chemistries or area at the adhesive joint.

Abstract: Among other aspects provided herein is a method describing the use of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) genotyping microarrays to resolve whether genetic material (such as genomic DNA) derived from a particular individual is present in a genetic material mixture (such as a complex genomic DNA mixture) is disclosed. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the identification of the presence of genetic material (such as genomic DNA) of specific individuals within a series of complex genomic mixtures is possible.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-positioning system of a deepwater underwater robot of an irregular dam surface of a reservoir, including cross reflection metal plates arranged on the irregular dam surface, and an underwater robot provided with a control motherboard, a water level indicator and a sonar system, wherein the water level indicator and the sonar system are respectively connected with the control motherboard, and the control motherboard is connected with a computer via a cable. The cross reflection metal plate has known coordinates and has four quadrants. A sonar signal emitted by the sonar system is reflected by the cross reflection metal plate to generate sonar reflection signals of four quadrants, and the sonar signals in the effective quadrants correspond to known coordinate parameters of the cross reflection metal plate so as to obtain the horizontal distance between the underwater robot and the irregular dam surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curcumin derivative, a method for producing same, and a photo-acoustic imaging agent comprising the curcumin derivative for detecting beta-amyloid plaque. The curcumin derivative, expressed by chemical formula 1, according to the present invention exhibits superb selective bonding with beta-amyloid, thereby allowing beta-amyloid to be detected by means of an optical or photo-acoustic imaging methods, and, particularly, the curcumin derivative can highly effectively detect photo-acoustic signals with almost no noise by reacting to irradiation of light having a particular wavelength range, and thus can be useful as a composition for detecting beta-amyloid and for diagnosing diseases caused by excessive production of beta-amyloid.